Ducati has pursued every available direction to help Pecco Bagnaia, whose 2026 MotoGP campaign has become considerably harder since the summer break. The double world champion had made a promising start, including a run of podium finishes, but since the championship resumed in early August he has crashed in three of the last four races and finished seventh in Austria.

Bagnaia’s central complaint is a lack of rear grip. The problem has not appeared in the same way for Ducati’s other riders, making the search for a remedy a highly individual one rather than an obvious weakness shared across the team.

Testing beyond the usual set-up changes

Former MotoGP crew chief Ramon Forcada said Ducati has explored ideas that initially looked irrational. One example he gave was the use of large brake discs from the previous year. Forcada also explained that some of these directions actually reduced performance, but a rider who feels that the motorcycle is not working properly still has to be allowed to examine the solution he is asking for.

The strain became visible at the San Marino Grand Prix. DAZN cameras recorded Fabio Di Giannantonio suggesting that Bagnaia try a basic set-up, prompting Bagnaia to reply: “They won’t let me.” Bagnaia later argued that the exchange had been removed from its context and criticised DAZN for putting the conversation on air.

The Japanese Grand Prix now arrives at an important point in Bagnaia’s season, taking place more than a year after his last grand prix victory. Ducati therefore needs a solution that addresses the specific rear-grip problem without allowing the search itself to cost the motorcycle further performance.